IDEFYEM - Part 2 Chapter 18

 The one who interrupted our fervent kiss was none other than Agon the Spirit.

"Ahem! Great, hmm."

Even the spirits are clearing their throats... It's not.

He came back to his senses and pushed Raphael away, but his rock-hard body only clung to him longer.

"Ugh, what are the Dukes these days!"

Agon's loud voice came in. I understand Raphael's desperation, but it was time to really fall.

"Ra, Raphael. Wait a minute!"

She twisted her body and managed to escape from him. As soon as I looked up, all I could see were damp eyes.

"I remember... You're back, aren't you?"

In fact, judging by the look on his face now, he didn't even need to ask.

I slowly raised my arm and placed my hand on Raphael's chest.

Thump, thump.

Even if it was only a half-hearted, it resonated more clearly than anything else. The remaining voids can be filled with mana later.

A smile crossed my lips, but Raphael seemed to have something to do.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

His conscience pricked him, and he slid away. Raphael frowned as if he was about to fall over at my attitude in front of Magogho.

"I didn't know what the price was going to be. If you're wrong, I'm...!"

"Well, then I have something to say. Why did Raphael give his heart to the first woman he saw on his wedding day?"

I thought it would take a long time, but Raphael's mouth snapped shut at my question.

He closed his eyes as if he needed a moment to collect his thoughts. It was hard to believe it had happened in just a few minutes, so it was confusing.

Memories suddenly poured into my head, and a new heart was born.

"..."

Finally, Raphael pursed his lips in the air a few times before finally speaking.

"I think it's best to talk about that when we're alone."

"Even now... Aha, there's Agon."

I had forgotten about it for a while. The spirit grew tall and said, wondering if I had heard what it said.

"When do you look for magic tools, and when you're done, you forget about them! I've been worrying about the Duke the whole time!"

"Ugh, I'm sorry."

"That's it, don't look for it for a while!"

The spirit that had been burning like flames in the fireplace quickly disappeared.

Is it really a fire spirit with a fiery disposition?

"No, I'm sorry..."

I looked at the empty seat and muttered to myself. It felt like one more Vermont was on the rise.

Then, as if he wouldn't allow me to be distracted for a moment, Raphael grabbed my hand from behind.

Coincidentally, it was his left hand where the ring was missing. I said, Oh.

"I'm glad I did. I was surprised to think it was taking away something else. Wedding rings aren't that expensive."

Raphael nodded as if agreeing that he was glad the ring was taken from him. However, as he spoke, his expression became more and more ambiguous.

Seeing this, I suddenly had a sense of foreboding, and I began to inquire.

"It's not an expensive ring, is it? It was a fake wedding anyway, and we didn't feel the same way at the time..."

"Do you want me to be honest?"

Raphael replied. A shocking truth awaited him, but he couldn't resist his curiosity.

I took Raphael's hand and urged him to tell me, and he said,

"It is the treasure of the Grand Duke."

"What?"

"I wanted to give you something good. Although there was considerable opposition to the inculcation of the Grand Duke's generational jewelry into wedding rings..."

"No, so the exact value?"

Feeling frustrated by the continuation of abstract words, I hurriedly asked.

I don't know that the explanation was Raphael's consideration to defuse the shock.

"About 20 years' worth if the manor's budget."

As soon as the sentence ended, my body swayed slightly. Raphael supported my waist with a swift gesture.

I was so shocked that I leaned over and began to mutter to him.

"It's such a waste! No, it's not a waste considering it's Raphael's life, but... Ugh, I didn't expect it to be that much!"

I wrapped my head around it and was overwhelmed with emotions that came and went.

Raphael watched me calmly, as usual, and then muttered softly.

"...Really, I'm still a tomboy as I was a kid."

Even then, I was so distressed that I didn't hear that sentence. I looked up and asked bewilderedly.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

Raphael smiled and moved on. He looked quite amused.

When I saw the face, I didn't want to blame myself anymore. I sighed and fell into Raphael's arms.

Then, suddenly, he noticed something unfamiliar and opened his mouth to speak,

"You're a little warm."

"Is that so?"

A slight warmth and the sound of your heart when you are held in your arms. How far back we have come for these obvious things.

"In this... Henri, it's half your heart."

Then Raphael put his hand on his chest and said.

He sounded like he was curious and guilty about me. Noticing his feelings, I cut him with a dagger.

"As much as you felt sorry for me, I felt even more sorry for you. But I'm going to try not to."

"..."

"We've been wandering for too long. I think I've finally found the right path."

His lips continued to purse against the backdrop of a gentle heartbeat in his ears.

"Besides, a lover with a heart split in half, it's a bit romantic..."

"Now, we're a couple."

Raphael, who had been listening to me, corrected me as quickly as a ghost.

I laughed at the sight of him, and then he lifted me up.

"Uh, uh..."

"It's getting late, but I want to hear the rest of my love confession on the bed."

For a moment, he froze, unable to understand what it meant, and then his legs flapped in the air.

"Do I really need to say that at a moment like this? It's a confession, but...!"

Raphael chuckled and walked out of the office.

***

It was late, so I thought I'd rather spend the night at the Duke's Mansion, but it wasn't a place I felt comfortable in yet.

It was close to midnight when we returned to the Grand Duke.

We were too tired to want to fall asleep on our beds, but we still had work to do.

It was to fill the remaining half of Raphael's heart with my own magic.

Until now, it had been left to his side, but I wanted to be able to get my hands on it from start to finish, as it had won his heart and was about to start anew.

Filling Raphael's body with my own magical power, that's what O feel like.

"You might look like a pervert, so don't tell Raphael."

With that in mind, I immediately came face to face with Raphael.

"Let's get started. If you feel any weird or pain, tell me right away."

I didn't think it would be difficult, but I said nervously.

Raphael just nodded with a smile as if he wasn't worried at all. I was strangely relieved by his carefree attitude.

Soon, a warm white light shifted from me to Raphael.

I stayed focused and looked at how Raphael was doing.

"What do you think?"

"I feel... Sounds good."

After an hour or so, the work was finished. Sirrrrrr, the magic was absorbed into his body and vanished entirely.

Perhaps because it was a little overexertion, a small amount of cold sweat formed on my face.

Raphael looked at me worriedly.

"Isn't that too much?"

"I'll be fine with a good night's rest. As long as someone doesn't mess with me while I'm sleeping."

"I'm not that unscrupulous, Enri. I'm sorry to hear that."

Raphael pretended to be hurt, raised his eyebrows casually, and then caressed my cheek with a worried touch.

"What about you?"

""I'm healthier than ever. Your magic is just as sweet as you."

"Do you really feel that?"

He collapsed on the bed and rested his head on Raphael's arm.

"I can feel it. Just like your first impression, you're lively and friendly."

"...Now you can hear exactly when that 'first' is, right?"

The busy day's work is over. There was nothing more to disturb us, and the bedroom was silent.

It was a great time to talk about something I'd been putting off for a long time.

Raphael kissed me lightly and began to tell me the fragments of his memories. It was a restful night.

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